This species occurs in broad-leaved evergreen forest, secondary forest, grassland and swamps. It inhabits vegetated areas with constantly humid substrates, and breeds and lays eggs on the land around shaded still waters such as ponds and temporary pools in forests. The hatching larvae move to the water and develop in water (Kurita and Tominaga 2017). On Tokunoshima the species occurs in and near sugar cane fields, at altitudes of 100-200 m asl (Utsonomiya, Utsonomiya and Kawachi 1978). It is terrestrial, and preys on various soil invertebrates, such as earthworms, centipedes, and snails (Honda et al. 2011).

The breeding season is from February to July, with the peak from March to May. Eggs are laid on humus soil or rotten leaves ca 1-2 m away from the still-water bodies, and eggs are laid in a small cluster in gaps beneath objects on the ground, such as deciduous leaves and small rocks (Tanaka 1994, Tominaga 2017). It takes 22-27 days for developing eggs to hatch, and 2-3 months for larvae to complete metamorphosis and start terrestrial life (Tanaka 1994, Tominaga 2017).

This species is distributed on six islands in the Ryukyu Archipelago (Nansei-shoto) of Japan, between 50-400 m asl. It occurs on Amami-Oshima, Ukejima and Tokunoshima in the Amami group of islands, and on Okinawajima, Sesokojima and Tokashikijima in the Okinawa group. 

There are old records (three museum specimens) from Mount Kuanyinshan, just north of Taipei, in Taiwan (Zhao and Adler 1993), and it was previously thought that it had become extinct on the island (Zhao 1998, W. Chou pers. comm. June 2019). However it is more than likely that these records are in error.

There are two other explanations for the Taiwan specimens:

1. The three specimens were originally studied by Thomas Barbour, who examined a large series of herpetological collections from a broad range of east Asia including both the Ryukyus and Taiwan. These three specimens may have actually been from the Ryukyus, but have been associated with the wrong sampling data by mistake;
2. Each of the three specimens are no more than a set of partially broken skeletons with some almost completely dried skins, muscles, etc., and these could not be identified to the species level with certainty (Hidetoshi Ota, unpublished observations). 

Considering the extensive morphological and genetic divergences of E. andersoni even within the Central Ryukyus (Honda et al. 2012, Igawa et al. 2020), and the complete absence of other amphibian lineages common to the Central Ryukyus and Taiwan at the species level (Matsui and Tominaga 2020), conspecificity of the northern Taiwan Echinotriton to E. andersoni, even if existing or having existed until recently, is quite unlikely (Hidetoshi Ota pers. comm. 2020).

As a result, the records in Taiwan have not been included in this assessment. The extent of occurrence (EOO) derived from the mapped range is 12,227 km².

Conservation Actions In-Place
This species is designated as a natural monument by Okinawa and Kagoshima Prefectures, and nearly half of this species' range lies within protected areas. It is also on the "List of Beneficial or of Important Economic or Scientific Value Terrestrial Wild Animals under States Protection", under the protection of the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife", which provides a moderate degree of protection and makes it illegal to collect (China Red List Assessment Workshop June 2019). Also, this species was added to the List of Nationally Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora of Japan for protection by the law of The National Government of Japan, and to CITES Appendix II for strict regulation of international trading. The species has been designated as Vulnerable in the Japanese Red List.

Conservation Needed
Deforestation due to logging and agriculture or urban development needs to be prevented to stop further degradation of its habitat. The construction of paved road through the species' habitat must also be avoided. Eradication of invasive predators that prey on adults of this species (mongooses, wild boars, etc.) and larvae (exotic predatory fish, crayfish, etc.) is needed (Tominaga 2017).

Research Needed
Careful and scientifically designed monitoring of populations and habitats on each island, as previously attempted on Sesokojima by Tanaka (1994) is strongly recommended.